The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-15
WATCHING THE WOMAN.
Detectives Follow the Old Plan and Capture
a Swindling English Paymaster.

CHICAGO, July l4.-Private information Was
received here tonight that to-day, in Kansas
City. VIM. A. Markham. assistant paymaster of
the British vessel Espoir, was arrested on a
charge OF forging the name Of his superior Of
ficer for amounts aggregation about SIS. 900. The
crimes were committed a year ago, when
the vessel was cruising off the coast of China
For some time past Markham, under the name
of Gsylor, has been acting agent at Kansas
City for welknown insurance company.
He has been constantly shadowed, night
and. day, since June 13, until this morning,
detectives being unwilling to arrest him till the
extradition papers and all other prefimiEaries
had been first arranged. Though the culprit's
whereabouts has been known only since June
Is. the detectives have increasingly been tracing
him I'D, step by STEP ever since the forgeries
were discovered, in the spring of 1886. The
story of the long chase forms remarkabe
record. Markham left his ship, ostensibly. for
a vacation. and all Glow to him had been lost be-
fore his misdeeds came to light, and the case
was formally handed over to the Scotland
Yard detectives in London. Meantime. Markham
was in Shanghai, where he was spending money
with prodigality worthy of east Indian
Rajah- II was in Shanghai that he fell in with
an American adventures named Gussie Bland
who had just arrived from San Francisco trav-
cling Mrs. Deforest. Upon her Markham
lavished nearly everything he had, and when,
7oon after, he became aware that the officers
were searching him out he had barely enough
funds to bring him to San Francisco. So ner-
vous was he on the way over that he attracted
the attention of San Francisco officer who was
on another errand. Had the San Francisco
thorities been notified, Markham could easily
have been arrested then, he kept
steadily in view for several days. but no charges
being known against him. he was allowed to
depart Gussie Bland returned to California on
Utmost the next steamer after Markham. She
went TO Los Angeles, but when tbs British
officials had finally located her, they learned that
answering Markhams description had
ever been near her. Nevertheless, her house
was watched month after month, until by acci-
dent. day, detective noticed the
writing letter mailed to one of
the womans intimates at a saloon near by. The
handwriting seemed familiar, and in comparison
with the photograph of signature in q San
Francisco hotel register, showed the writer to be
Markham. Close observation established the
fact that Markham had sent frequent letters at
the general delivery in some distant city. OFF,
GERS in disguise thereupon inveged themselves
into Mrs. Deforest's Rraces. and one night, when
champagne loosened her tongue. got her talking
of the mysterious correspondents. She ridiculed
him mercilessy a soft Englishman who had
thrown away fortune on her and was still as
Infatuated ever. incidentally dropping the
fact that he was then in Kansas City. Imme-
diarely arrangement was made by the detectives
whereby the clerk at the postofhce
window in Kansas City was to drop a pencil.
outside the counter n signal when Markham
asked for his mail So confused did the clerk
become that twice he failed and Markham es-
capped. The third time the detective given
the signal. Markham intensely suspicious
and had acquired the habit OF starting in the
opposite direction from that in which he in
tended to go and then suddenly turning. taking
street cars going the wrong wav, ana jumping
off TO take the he wanted, all the time
watching TO see if he was pursued In spite of
these tactics he was shadowed constantly until
to-day, when all was ready and the arrest
made. and to morrow morning early he will be
started on tho road to England and long term
of penal servitude.